TheBadPlaceyahoo news | ‘We aren't in it to make 5% or 6%': Warren Buffett calls Iran war market dip 'no...
Warren Buffett downplayed the market turbulence caused by the U.S.–Israel war in Iran, calling the early‑2026 dip “nothing” and emphasizing that Berkshire Hathaway is not in the business of chasing a few percent of short‑term gains. While the Nasdaq fell 7% and the S&P 500 slipped close to 5% in the first quarter—the worst quarterly performance since 2022—Buffett said the volatility is simply a routine correction and does not alter Berkshire’s long‑term calculus. He noted that, even after handing the CEO role to Greg Abel on Jan. 1, 2026, he still comes into the office daily, reviews the market with Mark Millard, and has recently made a “tiny purchase,” while the firm continued to buy large amounts of Treasury bills, reflecting his belief that cash is a necessary “oxygen” for any investment strategy.
Buffett put today’s pullback in historical context, pointing out that Berkshire has endured market crashes that erased more than 50% of value three times since he took over. For him, a modest dip of a few percentage points does not change the fundamental attractiveness of quality businesses, and he reiterated that Berkshire is not “in it to make five or six per cent.” His perspective underscores a long‑term horizon that spans decades rather than quarters, and he warned that retail investors often react to headline‑driven volatility—selling near the bottom—when the underlying fundamentals remain sound.
The oracle’s outlook offers a practical framework for ordinary investors: keep a cash buffer for unexpected shocks, avoid overpaying fees, and stay invested in low‑cost, diversified vehicles such as an S‑P 500 index fund. Buffett’s own history—surviving Black Monday, the dot‑com bust, the 2008‑09 crisis and the COVID‑19 collapse—demonstrates that periods of stress eventually give way to recovery. By focusing on patient, consistent buying and minimizing costs, investors can ride out volatility and benefit from the long‑term growth of American businesses.
